Nice editorial in the Oregonian making the case that it’s time to focus on energy (after health care is wrapped up).
A couple of choice (and inspirational) quotes:
The House already has passed a broad climate and energy bill. The Senate has approved an energy bill that goes a long way toward creating the kind of market for renewable energy that could help turn Oregon into an international center of wind, solar and other green energy sources.
…
Oregon committed to these policies years ago. It already has a state law requiring rapid growth in renewable energy as a share of the total energy use in the state; the bill before Congress would establish a national renewable energy portfolio standard. Oregon is already home to the North American headquarters of some of the world’s largest renewable energy companies that are developing wind, solar, geothermal and other clean, green energy projects.
It’s here in the Northwest, where there is abundant hydro resources, where there is plenty of wind, lots of room for big solar, and, most important, a deepening concentration of the best minds in energy development and conservation, that the nation’s goals of energy independence and carbon reduction will first be realized. But it won’t happen without strong federal leadership. And that starts with an energy bill this year.
